Bobby Darin Atco Award goes up for auction on December 5th, 2007

An internal award presented to Bobby Darin by Atco Records, in honor of 5,000,000 records sold, will go up for auction on December 5th, 2007 at Bonhams Auctioneers, Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, London. The item is part of The David Gest Collection of Entertainment Memorabilia, which includes the largest collection of Gold Presentation Discs ever to appear at auction, as well as an array of important items relating to Film, Television and Popular Music.

To view the item listing on the Bonhams site (or to place an online bid), use this link:

Lot No: 231 A 1958/9 'In-House' award presented to Bobby Darin, by Atco Records, in acknowledgement of 5,000,000 records sold

To browse the full collection, use this link:

The David Gest Collection of Entertainment Memorabilia

Bobby Darin Guitarists: Billy Mure (Splish Splash)

Billy Mure, Guitarist on Bobby Darin's Splish Splash (1958)

As a guitarist, arranger, conductor, and composer, Billy Mure established a style of playing that was uniquely his own. His debut album in 1957, "Supersonic Guitars in Hi-Fi" on the RCA label, utilized multi-tracking techniques to layer 4 guitars, 2 sets of drums, and 1 bass player. He followed this up with the aptly titled "Fireworks" in 1958, adding a third drummer and a vocal chorus. The LP was his first in "Living Stereo," and featured 4 original numbers, "Firecrackers," "Dancing Guitars," "Guitar Theme," and "Crackerjack." That same year, Mure provided the guitar backing for Bobby Darin's first hit single, Splish Splash.

Born July 7th, 1915, in New York City, Mure picked up the violin at the age of 5, moved on to guitar at 7, and by 13 he was composing his own music. After leaving high school, he joined Val Ernie's band and spent the next five years playing ritzy resorts and clubs. When World War II came along, Mure enlisted and became a member of the Air Force band, where he learned arranging. After the war, in 1947, he joined the staff orchestra at radio station WNEW in New York. While employed by WNEW, he did a bit of session work on the side, for such luminaries as Helen Merrill and Della Reese. He also wrote arrangements for Reese (My Heart Reminds Me) and Bobby Freeman (Do You Want to Dance? and Betty Lou's Got a New Pair of Shoes.)

After recording for the RCA label from 1957 to 1963, he set out on his own, to form the independent production company, BM Productions. He also scored a hit on the Seville label in 1962, as leader of the band for the Marcie Blaine single Bobby's Girl.

Mure continues to play live to this day, still delighting audiences everywhere with his Supersonic Guitar style.

Billy Mure on Darin LPs:

Bobby Darin (Atco 33-102, September 1958)

The Bobby Darin Story (Atco 33-131, 1961)

Twist with Bobby Darin (Atco 33-138, December 1961)

Billy Mure on other LPs (Selected Discography):

Helen Merrill: Merrill at Midnight (EmArcy 36107, 1957)

Billy Mure: Supersonic Guitars in Hi-Fi (RCA Victor LPM-1536, 1957)

Billy Mure: Fireworks (RCA Victor LSP-1694, 1958)

Billy Mure: Teen Bossa Nova (MGM SE-4131, 1963)

Billy Mure Links:

Billy Mure's Official Site